Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the 2020 CSSAUK Chinese New Year Gala: Be the Contributor, Pioneer and Promoter of the New Era

Central Hall Westminster, London, 23 January 2020

Dear Friends from the Educational Community,

Teachers and Students:

Good evening!

It is a real delight to join you once again to celebrate the Chinese New Year! Although this is the tenth CSSAUK Chinese New Year Gala that I have attended, I am as excited and full of expectations as ever.

The Year of the Rat is around the corner. I would like to extend my Chinese New Year greetings to CSSAUK, and through you, to nearly 100 Chinese students and scholars associations across Britain, and to all the Chinese students and scholars in the UK and their relatives and friends!

The year 2019 is a year of historic significance in the journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In this year, China demonstrated its style and strength. We celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past 70 years, China has experienced new changes, which have given the country new looks. The Chinese people are having a greater sense of gains, happiness and security.

The Chinese economy maintained high-quality growth, with GDP standing at close to 100 trillion RMB yuan, and per capita GDP expected to cross the 10,000 US dollars line.

In 2019, more than 10 million people were lifted out of poverty, and about 340 impoverished counties got rid of the poverty label and achieved development.

We made rapid progress in science and technology. Important outcomes were achieved in manned space flight, lunar exploration and satellite navigation.

We celebrated the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China. We demonstrated to the world the success of "One Country, Two Systems" and our continued commitment to this policy.

We remained committed to the path of peaceful development, stayed firm in safeguarding our sovereignty, security and development interests, and contributed our efforts to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

We successfully held a number of important diplomatic events, including the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilisations, and the second China International Import Expo. Through these events, we showed the world an open and inclusive civilisation that China is proud to be.

I have been deeply touched and encouraged by your patriotism and youthful vigour at the event of "Singing of National Rejuvenation and China-UK Friendship" held by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association in the Midlands last year.

The year 2019 was also the 65th anniversary of China-UK diplomatic relationship at the chargé d'affaires level. In the past 65 years, China-UK relationship has traveled through an extraordinary journey amidst winds and rains. In this process, China-UK educational exchanges and cooperation have thrived.

There are close to 200,000 Chinese students and scholars here in Britain, and more than 10,000 British students in China.

Across the UK, more than 600 schools are offering the Chinese language course, and more than 190,000 people are learning the Chinese language in 30 Confucius Institutes and 163 Confucius Classrooms.

Closer China-UK cooperation on education and research not only brings deeper friendship and more benefits to the peoples of our two countries. It also promotes the dialogue, exchanges and mutual learning between the Eastern and Western civilizations.

Teachers and Students:

The year 2020 is a milestone in China's development. China will achieve its first centenary goal, namely, to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and eliminate absolute poverty. This will certainly be a historic achievement. China will then embark on the new journey towards the second centenary goal.

In 2020, China is entering a new, important stage of development. So is the UK. There will be new, historical opportunities for China-UK relations. In this special year, I would like to share my three hopes for you.

First, I hope you will be the contributor to the national rejuvenation of China.

Young people are the future of a country and a nation. The strength of the young people defines the strength of the nation. President Xi Jinping has talked about his expectations for you.

He said, "I hope you will carry on the glorious tradition of patriotism. I hope you will aim high, work hard and get ready for important missions. I hope, with what you have learned, you could do more for your motherland and people. And I hope your youthful vigour will drive you on as you strive harder to live your dream."

I hope that, guided by these words, you will always keep your motherland in mind, and have confidence in the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and in China's theories, social system and culture.

I hope you will set your eyes on the prosperity of the country, the rejuvenation of the nation and the happiness of the people. Your love for your country is embedded in working tirelessly for your country your whole life, in aligning your small goal with the big goal of your motherland, and in realising your dream in the process of striving for national rejuvenation.

Second, I hope you will be the pioneer of our times.

China is at the best time for development since modern times. The world is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century. Peace, development and win-win cooperation remain the irreversible trend. The new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation are having a deep impact on the production model and lifestyle of mankind.

China is promoting a new round of high-level opening up. It has stayed ahead in innovation and is taking the lead. All these promise broad prospects for development. China is better positioned than at any time in history to make greater contribution to humanity.

It is my hope that you will follow the trend of our times, have a global vision and master the cutting-edge knowledge. These will enable you to have a clear understanding of the development in China and in the world, explore new frontiers and keep abreast with the times. I am sure you will become contributors and pioneers in China's development in the new era.

Third, I hope you will be the promoter of China-UK friendly exchanges and cooperation.

Both China and the UK have time-honoured history and profound culture. We are both big countries of global influence.

China is fostering world-class research institutions and universities and training high-level, high-caliber talents. The UK is strong in soft power, especially education, research and culture. It is working to build a "global Britain" after Brexit.

The complementary strengths of our two countries in the areas of education, science and technology create enormous potential for China-UK cooperation.

Chinese students and scholars in the UK have a deep understanding of the cultures of both China and the UK. You are envoys for China-UK friendship and cooperation. You are best positioned to seize the opportunities created by China-UK cooperation. You are a bridge between China and the UK that facilitates exchanges and cooperation on education, science, technology and culture, and promote dialogues between the Eastern and Western civilizations.

It is my hope that you will tell the stories of China's development and stories of Chinese people to the British public. I hope you will help your British friends appreciate the profound Chinese culture and China's values. I am sure you are capable of promoting better understanding of China here in the UK.

I will count on you to make greater contribution to bringing China-UK exchanges and cooperation to a new level and to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Teachers and Students:

The Chinese Embassy will always have your back. We will continue to support the efforts of CSSAUK and provide effective service to you in your study and life here in the UK. In the new year, we will continue to do a better job and provide better services in a more efficient manner.

I cannot wait to join you in enjoying the Chinese New Year Gala, which I am sure will be as brilliant and full of youthful vigour as ever. Let's cheer for all the Chinese students and scholars in the UK!

In conclusion, I wish you success in your study and career in the new year. And, once again, I wish you and your family a happy and prosperous Year of the Rat!

Thank you!